Device and method for illuminating, developing and cutting photographic material in the form of a roll

Abstract

A device for exposing, developing and cutting reeled photographic material comprises an exposure unit, a cutting unit and a developer unit, and transport mechanisms associated therewith and operable to transport the reeled photographic material or to hold it stationary. A first buffer container is disposed between the exposure and cutting units and a second buffer container is disposed between the cutting and developer units. The buffer containers have flaps for selectively closing and opening the buffer containers whereby the reeled photographic material may be transported above them when they are closed and buffered therein when they are open.

1. A device for exposing, developing and cutting reeled photographic material, comprising
 (a) an exposure unit and a transport mechanism associated therewith,  
 (b) a cutting unit and a transport mechanism associated therewith and operable to transport the reeled photographic material or to hold it stationary,  
 (c) a first buffer container disposed between the exposure unit and the cutting unit, the first buffer container having 
 (1) means for selectively closing and opening the first buffer container whereby the reeled photographic material is transported above the first buffer container when it is closed and buffered therein when it is open,  
 
 (d) a developer unit and a transport mechanism associated therewith and operable to transport the reeled photographic material or to hold it stationary, and  
 (e) a second buffer container disposed between the cutting unit and the developer unit, the second buffer container having 
 (1) means for selectively closing and opening the second buffer container whereby the reeled photographic material is transported above the second buffer container when it is closed and buffered therein when it is open.  
 
 
   
   
     2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the buffer containers has a capacity of receiving several meters of the reeled photographic material. 
   
   
     3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for selectively closing and opening at least one of the buffer containers is a flap. 
   
   
     4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the exposure unit has a cut marker printing device and the cutting unit has a cut marker sensor. 
   
   
     5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting unit has a dual-cut cutting mechanism. 
   
   
     6. A method of exposing, developing and cutting a reeled photographic material, which comprises
 (a) transporting the reeled photographic material to an exposure unit,  
 (b) transporting the reeled photographic material from the exposure unit to a cutting unit,  
 (c) selectively opening and closing a first buffer container disposed between the exposure unit and the cutting unit whereby the reeled photographic material is transported above the first buffer container when it is closed and buffered therein when it is open,  
 (d) transporting the reeled photographic material to a developer unit, and  
 (e) selectively opening and closing a second buffer container disposed between the cutting unit and the developer unit whereby the reeled photographic material is transported above the second buffer container when it is closed and buffered therein when it is open.  
 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the reeled photographic material is transported to the developer unit at a higher speed than it is transported at the exposure unit. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein a cut marker is applied to the reeled photographic material at the exposure unit and is detected at the cutting unit.